Kent Hughes has shown he is not afraid to make big moves during the NHL offseason to try to make the Montreal Canadiens better. He did it last summer with the addition of Noah Dobson, who had an excellent first season in Montreal and has established himself as a key part of the blueline moving forward.
This summer, the focus probably shifts to the offense and finding a Top 6 forward, particularly a center, that can run the second line behind Nick Suzuki. There is no question that the center the Canadiens are looking for, one in the prime of his career with term and a reasonable AAV, is hard to find. They usually require a big trade package, but for the Canadiens, they have some great trade assets that they offer.
While the Canadiens are probably looking to move Brendan Gallagher and Samuel Montembeault, they are not necessarily the pieces that can make a trade like that happen. However, these are the four best assets the Canadiens have that they might consider trading to get a deal like that done.
4. Alexander Zharovsky
The Montreal Canadiens didn't have any first-round picks last year due to the Dobson trade, but it didn't stop them from finding a great prospect in Alexander Zharovsky. Their second-round pick had a great season in the KHL with 16 goals and 26 assists in 59 games.
Zharovsky has a high ceiling and is the type of prospect that teams would value. It is probably one of the reasons that he was included in the rumored trade package for Matthew Knies at the trade deadline.
If that trade package is true, it is a clear indication that the Canadiens are willing to move him for the right player and could be a centerpiece of a trade offer for a Top 6 player.
3. Oliver Kapanen
Oliver Kapanen had an excellent rookie season, where he finished with 22 goals after playing every regular-season game with an average ice time of 14:29. However, Kapanen fell out of the lineup in the playoffs after he struggled to make the same impact and played in only seven games and averaged less than nine minutes of ice time per game.
The hope was that Kapanen could be the center for that second line, and that is where he played most of the regular season. Unfortunately, he couldn't remain in that role in the playoffs, which is why the Canadiens could look to offer him in a trade for an upgrade.
For teams that are rebuilding, he is a perfect player for them to go after, as he still needs some room to develop. Although he has already shown he can be productive with 20+ goals, the risk isn't as great as some prospects.
2. 2026 first-round pick
Of the four assets on this list, the Canadiens' first-round pick feels like the most likely to be moved this summer. At this point, it would be surprising if Montreal made its pick at the end of the month, which is set at 28th overall.
Kent Hughes has made it clear that he won't mortgage the future for a player who only has one or two years left of top-level production to help them win now. They want a player who can help them win now but also help them win over the next five seasons.
The fact that they are towards the end of the first round makes it tough to find prospects who could help them win in the next season or two. At this point, they will be looking at players who are likely 18 years old and three or four seasons away from reaching the NHL.
1. Michael Hage
The Montreal Canadiens' most valuable trade asset is probably also the least likely to be moved. At this point, Michael Hage should be available, but only for a blockbuster level type trade.
Hage is easily the Canadiens' best prospect, and if he elected to join Montreal instead of going back to Michigan, this probably isn't even a discussion. However, the Canadiens are looking to build on the promising run in the playoffs that ended in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Knowing that Hage at the earliest could join Montreal in the final months after the Wolverines' season has ended, makes it a possibility that Kent Hughes offers him in a trade package.
Hage saw a significant jump in production season over season as he went from 34 points in 33 games in 2024-25 to 52 points this past season. He remained productive in the U20 World Junior Championship for Team Canada with 15 points in only seven games.
He certainly looks like he is going to be an elite player in the NHL, but if the Canadiens have a chance to add an elite player that can help them this season, it is something they need to consider.
